Audacity of Hope Chest

Audacity : the quality or state of being audacious: as a : intrepid boldness b : bold or arrogant disregard of normal restraints

First off, thank you for taking a look at my work and I hope you will leave a comment. I’m very proud of this project because of what i alluded to in the title. This was a very intrepid project for me and I feel I did face the fear of MY normal restraints when taking this project on. I really look at this project as my first ‘milestone’ project in wood working. This was a huge undertaking for me considering my largest project to date has been my clock:P I’m proud to say that I finished this project just an hour ago to fulfill my promise to have this chest done for my daughter’s valentine’s day gift! (11pm)

This chest is solid maple and walnut, the only plywood material used was for the drawer bottoms and drawer carcass top/bottom and nearly every board used was either recycled or rough lumber to start. The sides of the chest are hand-cut dovetails ( my first dovetails of any type I ever attempted). For the beginners like me out there, I don’t recommend doing your first set on hard maple:P Each end took me about 1.5 hours to cut and chisel with the walnut being MUCH easier to work with.

The drawers are cut to fit exactly in the drawer carcass without using slides or mounting bars. I love how the false fronts turned out and the drawer box itself is solid oak that was recycled from a tabletop my dad gave me. The drawer carcass’ top and bottom molding is actually recycled maple hardwood flooring.

The kick board design was my own modification that I cut out with a jig saw ( poorly). However, my dad taught me that being able to hide my mistakes and adjust my designs to them is a mark that I’m getting better:P You can’t tell the poor quality from a normal vantage point so I’m happy with it.

I started to run out of lumber by the time I got to the lid and did a lot of hand planing after jointing the boards. The curly maple didn’t plane well so it is what it is. At least I made an honest effort with the jack plane.

The inside bottom is lined with cedar closet lining. Piano hinge and a lid support to prevent slamming round the project off.

I’m so proud that I was able to make my vision a reality. I didn’t have enough of either wood species to make the whole chest with and the interplay of the woods I think turned out well. I am really happy the bark-wood showing through the maple on the sides added to it’s look ( at least in my opinion).

I know this isn’t pro quality yet, but I envisioned this would be my journeyman test and I hope that I did well. There are certainly plenty of things that aren’t great, but I think this chest will last till the Rapture and the overall look and build are pleasing.

ive been telling myself i need to make one of these for my grand daughter thats 13 but im not sure im clever enough to get it done . maybe after a few smaller projects . i like the style and the look and im sure your daughter will just love it!

One of my most treasured possessions is a cedar chest my Grandfather had made for my Mother when she was 15. The lumber came from trees on his farm. I’m sure your daughter loves her chest and so will her child someday. Go to a trophy store and have them engrave a brass card with your name, the date of construction and who the chest was built for and screw it to the chest.

As you should be very proud Jesse! Not only did you overcome fears, doubts, the unknown….. But you built a beautiful family heirloom as well. I am no fortune teller, but seeing this as a treasured piece from here on out is a pretty easy call.